F 

74 

C2A5 


ft***-    &,  o JTrK6^6 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


REDMAN    FARM. 


1870. 

POINTED     BY     WILLIAM      J3ENSE f\o.    8    pONGF^ESS    (SQUARE, 

1$  ()  ST  0  N 


I*  1.  A.\ 

&  A  HUGH  . 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


REDMAN    FARM, 

SO    CALLED, 

And  of  the  Title  thereto, 

Situate  in  Canton,  Norfolk  County, 

Maffachujetts. 

NOW     MOSTLY      OWNED      BY 

HENRY    L.    PIERCE,    Esq. 

OF    BOSTON. 


COMPILED      B  Y 

llis       Ames 


Ellis       A 


1870. 

f-'F^INTED     BY    WILLIAM     JBeNSE, J^O.    8  pONGi^ESS    SQUARE, 

BOSTON. 


HISTORY 


REDMAN    FARM 


The  Redman  Farm,  so  called,  is  situated  near  the  Eastern 
boundary  of  the  territory  that  was  formerly  called  the  New  Grant,  in 
the  town  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  Afterwards,  on  Dec'r  19, 
1715,  that  territory  was  incorporated  into  a  new  precinct  or  parish, 
and  called  Dorchester  South  Precinct.  Afterwards  that  territory, 
except  what,  in  1724,  was  set  off  to  Wrcntham,  was,  on  22d  Dec'r, 
1726,  incorporated  into  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Stoughton  ;  and 
the  farm  is  in  the  Easterly  part  of  that  portion  of  the  old  town  of 
Stoughton  that  was  set  off  and  on  Feb'y  23,  1797,  incorporated  into 
a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Canton. 

This  farm  is,  of  course,  a  small  fraction  of  the  territory  described 
in  the  Colonial  and  Provincial  Charters  of  Massachusetts,  granted  by 
the  Kings  of  England,  the  former  in  1628,  and  the  latter  in  1691, 
but  which  latter  arrived  here  and  went  into  effect  in  May  1692. 

Dorchester,  in  1636,  extended  Southerly  only  as  far  as  the  top  of 
Rlue  Hill ;  but  by  order  of  the  General  Com-t,  on  November  20, 
1637,  it  was  extended  to  the  bounds  of  the  Colony  of  Plymouth;  and 
thereby  what  is  now  Canton,  Stoughton,  Sharon,  Foxborough  and  a 
large  portion  of  Wrentham,  Southerly  to  the  line  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
was  granted  to  and  made  part  of  Dorchester.  This  was  the  addition 
called  the   New  Grant. 

The  Indians  on  the  Neponset  River  having  sold  away  all  their 
lands  there,  and  having  proceeded  to  Punkapog  and  located.  Rev.  John 
Eliot,  by  letter  dated  4th  day,  1th  month,  \i>~>~,  applied  to  Major 
Atherton  of  Dorchester,  to  have  that  town  make  an  order  and  re- 
cord it  in  their  town  records,  to  allow  the  Indians  to   reside   at    Pun- 


kapog,  and  make  a  town  there,  and  that  the  town  of  Dorchester 
would  appoint  suitable  men,  who  in  due  season  should  bound  and  lay 
out  the  land  and  make  record  of  such  laying  out. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  Dorchester,  Dec.  7,  1657,  it  was  voted  that 
the  town  give  a  plantation  to  the  Indians  at  Punkapog,  and  also  that 
Hon.  Major  Atherton,  Lieut.  Clapp,  Ensign  Foster,  and  William 
Sumner  be  desired  and  empowered  to  lay  out  the  Indian  Plantation 
at  Punkapog,  not  exceeding  six  thousand  acres  ;  and  that  the  Indians 
should  not  alienate  or  sell  their  plantation  or  any  part  of  it. 

By  a  statute,  both  of  the  Colony  and  Province,  all  sales  and  con- 
veyances of  lands  procured  by  or  from  indians  to  any  person  or  per- 
sons since  1633,  without  the  license  of  the  General  Court,  were  null 
and  void  and  of  no  effect. 

This  plantation  was  laid  out  according  to  the  vote.  From  the 
plan  thereof  made  by  John  Butcher,  surveyor,  in  the  year  1696, — it 
is  described  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  — 

Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Northerly  side  of  Punkapog  Pond, 
about  25  rods  Southwesterly  of  the  point  where  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween Canton  and  Randolph  crosses  the  Pond,  and  thence  running, 
what  was  in  1696,  West  eleven  degrees  North,  336  rods,  bounding 
Northerly  on  land  then  of  Capt.  John  Foster  to  the  old  road  ;  then 
continuing  the  same  course  200  rods  until  you  come  to  Punkapog 
Brook ;  then  continuing  the  same  course  52  rods  more,  to  the  corner 
of  land  of  John  Holbrook ;  and  during  said  last  named  252  rods, 
bounding  Northerly  on  lot  No.  5,  which  belonged  to  Daniel  Preston, 
Samuel  Paul,  David  Jones,  and  a  Mr.  Proctor ;  then  continuing  the 
same  course  and  bounding  Northerly  on  land  of  John  Holbrook,  a 
distance  of  47  rods,  to  a  point  within  about  25  rods  of  Burnt  Swamp, 
so  called.  This  was  the  North  side  of  the  Punkapog  Plantation,  and 
was  a  straight  line  635  rods,  or  about  two  miles  long. 

From  the  last  named  point  then  turn  and  run  South,  28  degrees 
West,  as  it  was  in  1696,  one  mile,  one  quarter  and  sixty-two 
rods,  as  follows,  viz,  36  rods  on  lands  of  John  Holbrook;  125  rods 
on  lot  No  6,  belonging  to  Thomas  Andrews  ;  and  301  rods  on  lot  No. 
7,  belonging  to  Richard  Baker;  then  turning  South  4^  degrees 
West  166  rods:  thence  South  34  degrees  West  264  rods,  to  a  point 
within  about  48  rods  of  the  stream  on  which  stands  the  Stone  Factory 
so  called.  This  was  the  Westerly  side  of  the  Punkapog  Plantation, 
and  is  about  2|  miles  in  length. 

Then  turning  and  running,  by  the    course   of  1696,   South  44  J  de- 


grees  East  72  rods  to  the  stream  on  which  stands  the  Stone  Factory ; 
thence  up  stream  by  the  wasteway  of  the  Stone  Factory,  the  waste- 
way  of  the  Revere  Copper  Works,  and  the  wasteway  of  the  Iron 
Works  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons  to  the  point  on  Washington  Street 
where  the  natural  stream  crosses  said  street  or  road ;  thence  up 
stream  to  the  point  where  Beaver  Brook  flowing  from  the  Shovel 
Works  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons  originally  met  Pequit  Brook  flowing 
down  from  what  is  now  the  Reservoir  Pond ;  thence  up  stream  up 
Pequit  Brook,  a  distance  of  about  72  rods,  and  then  East  20  degrees 
South,  a  distance  of  800  rods  to  a  point  about  30  rods  distant  from 
the  Range  line  between  the  4th  and  5th  Ranges  ;  which  line  of  800 
rods,  sometimes  called  the  Dorchester  line,  crossed  the  road  leading 
to  Dorchester  Swamp,  (now  in  Stoughton,)  now  called  Pleasant 
Street,  and  coincided  some  distance  with  one  of  the  Southerly  lines 
of  what  is  now  the  Almshouse  Farm  of  Canton,  formerly  owned  and 
occupied  by  Roger  Sherman,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  ;  and  which  line  of  800  rods  was  the  Northerly  bound 
of  part  of  lot  No.  31,  belonging  175  years  ago  to  widow  Pelton,  of 
lot  No.  52  of  325  acres,  belonging  to  Wm.  Robinson  and  Samuel 
Robinson,  and  of  lot  No.  53,  of  600  acres,  belonging  to  Capt.  Capen 
and  John  Capen,  and  of  lot  No.  54,  of  73  acres,  belonging  to 
John  Blake,  and  at  its  Easterly  end  was  the  Northerly  head  of  the 
5th  range. 

This  was  the  Southerly  side  of  the  Punkapog  Plantation,  and 
measuring  by  a  straight  line  from  the  Southwest  corner  to  the  Easterly 
corner  the  side  overruns  3i  miles  in  length  by  about  15  rods. 

Then  turning  so  as  to  make  with  the  last  named  line  an  angle  of 
about  82  degrees,  it  runs  one  mile  and  |ths,  crossing  the  York  road 
a  distance  of  about  50  rods  ;  then  turning  Westerly  about  a  right  an- 
gle with  the  last  named  line,  runs  one  mile  and  66  rods  on  the  South- 
erly side  of  Capt.  Clapp's  Farm.  At  the  end  of  about  one  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  said  last  named  turn  you  come  into  the  road  leading 
through  the  Farms,  so  called,  and  cross  the  road.  At  the  end  of 
said  one  mile  and  66  rods  you  turn  so  as  to  make  an  angle  of  about 
115  degrees  with  the  last  line  and  then  run  one  half  a  mile  and  ten 
rods  to  a  station  on  the  Northeasterly  side  of  the  road  leading  from 
the  Farms  to  what  is  now  Punkapog  village,  so  called  ;  —  then  turn- 
ing 15  degrees  more  Easterly  than  the  last  named  line  and  run  50 
rods,  thence  turning  33  degrees  more  Easterly  of  North  than  the  last 
named  line,  and  run  125  rods  to  the   margin  of  Punkapog  Fond,   at  a 


point  about  15  rods  Southerly  of  the  ancient  and  natural  mouth  of  the 
brook  leading  through  Punkapoag  village  ;  and  thence  across  the  pond 
in  a  straight  line,  or  by  the  shore  of  the  pond,  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

This  Punkapoag  line  is  delineated  in  the  last  County  Map  of  Nor- 
folk County,  published  in  the  year  1858,  by  Smith  &  Eumstead. 


Charles  Redman  was  the  youngest  son  of  Robert  Redman,  formerly 
of  Dorchester,  but  who  was  a  resident  of  Milton,  at  the  date  of  his 
will,  Dec.  30,  1678,  which  was  probated  January  31,  1679. 

Robert  Redman  was  appointed  administrator  on  the  estate  of  his 
father,  Charles  Redman,  June  14,   1725. 

The  inventory  of  his  estate  bears  date  July  25,  1725. 

The  appraisers  were  Robert  Pelton,  Thomas  Jordan,  and  John 
Shepard,  and  his  estate  is  therein  represented  as  follows,  viz  :  — 

£  S.  d. 

"  His  cert  and  wheels  and  chains  and  plow,     ....     3  2.  0 

and  cattle  £26,  Is.  and  swine  £.3, 29  1,  0 

and  bedding  and  wearing  cloths   £12,    and   axes  and 

tools  45  s 15  5.  0 

^and  household  stuff  £4,  6  s.  4  d.  and  a  servant  lad  £5, 

and  for  horse  kind  £8 17  6.  4 


£64   14.  4" 
Which  inventory  was  sworn  to  in  Court,  Aug.  30,  1725. 
Thankful  Redman,  the  first  white  person  born  in   Dorchester  South 
Precinct,  viz,  in  the  year  1700,  married   George   Blackman  in  1728, 
and  died  in  1783, — she  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  Redman. 


In  General  Court,  Friday,  Dec.  27,  1723,  Paul  Dudley,  Esq.  of 
the  Council,  from  the  Committee  on  the  affair  of  Puncapaug,  made 
the  following  report,  viz  :  — 

"  Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  General  Court  at  their  session  in 
June  last  appointing  a  Committee  to  repair  to  Puncapaug  to  inquire 
into  the  Nature  and  Condition  of  the  Lands  there  Leased  by  the  In- 
dians to  the  English  &  to  make  Report  of  the  Quantity  and  Quality 
of  the  Lands  possessed  by  Each  Person  &  under  What  Conditions  & 


Regulations  it  may  be  proper  for  this  Court  to  Confirm  the  respective 
Leases,  Having  Equal  Regard  to  the  Indian  Right  &  English  Im- 
provements:  The  said  Committee  have  been  at  Puncapaug  and  up- 
on their  Inquiry  find, 

l8t  That  the  tract  of  Land  at  Puncapaug  Called  by  the  name  of 
the  Indian  Land,  Altho  said  to  be  Six  thousand  Acres.  Amounts  to 
no  more  than  five  Thousand  five  hundred  Acres,  there  being  an  An- 
cient Grant  of  five  hundred  Acres  to  one  Fenno  w ''.'.'  must  be  Sub- 
ducted out  of  it. 

2'.iy  There  may  be  About  fifteen  hundred  Acres  of  Unimproved 
rough  land,  Which  is  Unoccupied  by  the  English  &  not  Leased  by  the 
Indians. 

3(ily  The  other  four  thousand  Acres  (  more  or  less  )  is  "What  is  or 
has  been  Leased  by  the  Indians  to  the  English  &  now  under  their 
Improvements,  A  schedule  of  the  names  of  the  Tenants  of  the  quanti- 
ty of  their  Lands,  the  purchase  money  they  gave  for  it,  together  with 
the  Annual  Rent  or  Quit  Rent  is  hereunto  Anexed.  Upon  the  Whole, 
that  which  the  Committee  have  agreed  on  as  proper  in  their  opinion 
to  represent  &  report  to  this  Honble  Court  is  as  follows  :  l9t  That 
the  said  leases  be  all  of  them  made  or  Reduced  to  Ninety  Nine  Years 
from  this  time  &  for  that  Term  of  Years  be  Confirmed  to  the  Tenants 
by  this  Court.  2dly  That  the  Quit  Rent  or  Annuity,  to  be  paid  by 
the  English  to  the  Indians  for  their  Lands,  be  one  penny  Per  Acre 
per  Annum  &  this  to  be  Collected  by  &  paid  Unto  Some  proper  Per- 
son or  persons,  Who  shall  be  Appointed  by  the  Court  as  Trustees  for 
the  Indians  :  The  money  from  Time  to  Time  to  be  Carefully  applied 
for  the  use  of  the  Indians. 

gaiy  The  English  Tenants  their  Heirs  or  Assigns  at  the  Expiration 
of  the  said  Term  of  Ninety  Nine  Years  to  be  Allowed  the  Renewing 
their  Respective  Leases  for  Ninety  Nine  Years  Longer  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  three  pence  per  Acre  as  a  fine  for  the  Use  id' the  Indian-, 
Unless  they  should  turn  their  Leases  into  Freeholds  by  taking  Ab- 
solute Deeds  of  the  Indians,  Which  they  Shall  be  Allowed  to  do  at 
any  Time  or  Times  hereafter  upon  paying  to  the  Trustee  or  Trustees 
t<>  the  Indians,  Twenty  Years  Rent  of  such  Land  as  they  Hold  \  En- 
joy by  Vertue  of  Such  Leases  which  Twenty  Years  Purchase  Money 
shall  also  be  Let  out  for  the  Annual  Profits  &  Advantage  of  the  In- 
dians by  their  Trustees. 

4tl.,.,y  That  the  Indians  be  confirmed  in  their  Privilege  of  fishing 
fowling  and  Hunting  So  as  they  Do  no  Damage  to  the  English,  &  also 


8 

of  Such  Apple  Trees  or  Orcharding  (  particularly  Some  Orcharding 
Claimed  by  Charles  Redman  in  his  Lease  )  as  they  have  Expressly 
Saved  or  excepted  In  their  Leases. 

The  Committee  have  also  Anexed  a  memorial  in  Behalf  of  the 
English  Tenants  Which  they  have  Rec?  Since  their' being  at  Punca- 
paug. 

Question, — Whether  the  meadows,  Orchards  &  Old  Fields  &  Clear 
Lands  Hired  of  the  Indians  Should  not  pay  a  Greater  Quit  Rent  than 
one  penny  per  Acre. 

In  Council  Read  &  Ordered,  that  the  first  second  &  fourth  Article 
of  this  Report  be  Accepted,  And  that  Nath|  Hubbard  &  John  Quincy 
Esq™  be  Trustees  for  the  Indians  of  Puncapaug  :  Sent  Down  for  Con- 
currence— " 


In  General  Court,  Friday  Dec^  4,  1724. 

A  Petition  of  Joseph  Tucker,  Timothy  Jones,  Joseph  Morse  & 
Divers  others  the  English  Inhabitants  of  Puncapaug,  Shewing  that 
they  Have  held  the  Lands  they  now  Dwell  on  by  Leases  from  the  In- 
dian Proprietors,  Wcth  the  Indians  are  willing  to  Sell  Absolutely  to 
the  Petitioners,  as  by  the  said  Indians  Petition  to  this  Court  may  ap- 
pear, And  therefore  praying  that  the  Court  would  give  them  Liberty 
to  Purchase  their  Lands  and  Tenements  they  now  dwell  on  of  the 
said  Indian  Proprietors  for  such  Valuable  Consideration  as  was  Re- 
ported by  a  Committee  of  this  Court,  or  upon  such  other  Terms  as 
this  Court  shall  Judge  Reasonable. 

In  Council  Read  &  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  ;  viz,  the  English 
Tenants  or  Lessees  at  Puncapaug  have  Liberty,  And  they  are  hereby 
Allowed  to  Buy  out  the  Reversion  of  such  Lands  as  they  have  upon 
Lease,  or  turn  their  Estates  into  a  fee  simple,  by  good  Deeds  of  Re- 
lease or  Quit  Claim  from  the  Indian  Proprietors  of  Puncapaug  upon 
such  Terms  or  upon  Such  Valuable  Consideration,  as  a  Committee  to 
be  appointed  by  this  Court  Shall  judge  Reasonable  ;  The  Money 
raised  by  such  Deeds  of  Confirmation  to  be  received  by  the  Commit- 
tee in  Order  to  be  Applied  for  the  Use  of  the  Indians  of  Punca- 
paug in  such  manner  as  this  Court  shall  Order. 

Provided  also  that  the  said  Committee  approve  the  Respective 
Deeds  of  Confirmation  from  the  Indians  to  the  English  and  further, 


Ordered  that  Nath1  By  field  &  Paul  Dudley  Esq1?!  with  such  as  the 
Honb'  House  of  Representatives  shall  appoint  be  the  Committee  for 

the  Affair  Aforesaid In  the  House  of  Representatives  Read  and 

Concurd  &  Ordered  that  John  Quincy  &  Jonathan  Remington  Es™  & 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Stone  be  joined  with  the  Committee  for  the  Affair 
aforesaid. 

Consented  to,         WM  DUMMER." 


(COPY.) 

DEED. 

AMOS  AHAUTON   &  OTHERS 

TO 

ROBERT  REDMAN. 

This  Indenture  made  the  twenty  second  day  of  March  in  the 
twelfth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George,  by  the  Grace 
of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  &c.  annoqy?  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty  five, 
Between  Amos  Ahauton,  Tho's  Ahauton,  Simon  George,  Hezekiah 
Squamoag,  and  George  Hunter,  all  resident  in  Punkapoag,  an  Indian 
Plantation,  within  the  township  of  Dorchester,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk 
and  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  and  the  Na- 
tive or  Indian  Proprietors  of  the  lands  within  the  said  Indian  Planta- 
tion, in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  other  Indians  that  are,  or  may  be 
interested  therein  on  the  one  part,  and  Robert  Redman,  Son  of 
Charles  Redman,  late  of  Punkapaug  afore'!,  (or  Dorchester  village  as 
it  is  sometimes  called)  yeoman,  deceased,  and  late  one  of  the  English 
tenants  or  lessees  of  the  said  Indian  lands,  on  the  other  part,  Witnesseth 
that  the  said  Amos  Ahauton,  Thomas  Ahauton,  Simon  George,  Heze- 
kiah Squamoag,  &  George  Hunter,  (by  and  with  the  Allowance  and  ap- 
probation of  the  Honorable  Nath'Byfield,  Paul  Dudly,  Jonathan  Rem- 
ington, John  Quincy,  and  Ebenezer  Stone  Esq!  (being  a  Committee  ap- 
pointed and  Impowered  by  the  Great  &,  General  Court  or  Assembly  of 
the  Province  aforesaid,  at  their  session  at  Boston  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1724,)  Signified  by  Subscribing  their  names  hereunto)  for  and 
2 


10 

In  consideration  of  the  sum  of  thirteen  pounds  sixteen  shillings,  in  good 
bills  of  credit  on  the  said  province,  well  and  truly  paid  by  the  said  Robert 
Redman  into  the  hands  of  the  said  Committee  but  in  Trust  to  and  for 
the  only  use  and  behoof  of  the  Indian  Proprietors  aforesaid  and  to  be 
accordingly  employed  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  Indian  Proprietors 
pursuant  to  the  Direction  of  the  said  Great  &  General  Court  Have 
given,  granted,  bargained  and  sold,  and  by  these  presents  Do  give, 
grant,  bargain  and  sell,  aliene  release,  confirm  and  quitclaim  unto  the 
said  Robert  Redman  (in  his  possession  now  being)  in  behalf  of  him- 
self and  the  rest  of  the  heirs  of  the  said  Charles  Redman  Decd,  a  cer- 
tain tract  or  parcel  of  land  situate  in  Punkapoag  plantation  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Dorchester  aforesaid,  and  containing  by  estimation  about  One  hun- 
dred &  twenty  two  Acres  more  or  less — Reserving  to  the  said  Indian 
Proprietors  the  full  privilege  of  their  old  Orchards  upon  any  part  of 
the  premises  as  also  five  acres  improved  by  the  said  Indians  for  plant- 
ing bounded  upon  the  said  pond  ivhich  said  land  hereby  granted  is  more 
particularly  described,  Decypherd  in  a  small  plan  or  draught  hereto  an- 
nexed, Together  with  all  and  singular  the  Edifices,  buildings,  fences, 
profits,  privileges,  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any 
wise  appertaining,  and  the  reversion  &  reversions,  remainder  and  re- 
mainders, rents,  issues  and  profits  thereof. 

To  Have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  tract  or  parcel  of  land  & 
premises  with  the  appur^8  unto  the  said  Robert  Redman  and  the  other 
heirs  of  the  said  Charles  Redman  decd  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever, 
to  their  only  sole  and  proper  use,  benefit,  &  behoof,  from  henceforth 
and  forever  more :  Free  and  clear  &  clearly  acquitted  Exonerated  and 
Discharged  of  and  from  all  &  all  manner  of  incumbrances  charges, 
rents,  arrearages  of  rents  Annual  payments,  or  any  other  demand  what- 
soever for  or  by  reason  of  the  same.  And  the  said  Amos  Ahauton, 
Thomas  Ahauton,  Simon  George,  Hezekiah  Squamoag,  and  George 
Hunter  do  for  themselves,  their  heirs  and  successors  covenant,  promise, 
grant,  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  Robert  Redman  for  himself,  and 
the  said  Charles  Redman's  heirs  and  assigns,  by  these  presents,  that  by 
virtue  of  the  Order  of  the  Great  and  General  Court  or  Assembly  of 
the  Province  aforesaid,  they  have  full  power  and  authority  to  grant, 
bargain,  sell,  convey,  release  &  Quitclaim  the  said  land  &  premises  unto 
the  said  Charles  Redman's  Children,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  in 
manner  and  form  as  aforesaid,  and  that  they  the  said  granters  shall  and 
will  forever  warrant  and  defend  the  same  unto  the  said  Robert  Redman 
and  the  rest  of  the  said   Charles  Redman's  heirs   against  themselves 


27 

less,  and  bounded,  beginning  at  a  corner  on  the  Taunton  road,  by  a 
corner  of  land  of  the  grantee,  and  running  thence  North  79  1-1  °  , 
East  thirty  eight  rods  and  fourteen  links,  thence  North  11  1-2  ~ 
West,  eight  rods ;  thence  North  79  3- 1  °  East  fifty  eight  rods  and 
twelve  links,  thence  North  7  °,  West  nineteen  rods  and  twelve  links 
to  land  of  Nathaniel  French  —  all  said  courses  by  the  land  of  the 
grantee,  thence  South  78A  °  West,  38  rods  and  11  links,  thence 
South  59  1-4—,  West,  ten  rods  and  four  links,  thence  South, 
47  °,  West,  thirteen  rods  and  seventeen  links,  thence  South, 
52  3-4  °,  West,  fourteen  rods  and  twenty  links,  thence  South,  50 
1-4°,  West,  seven  rods  and  fifteen  links,  thence  South,  33  3-1  ~, 
West,  one  rod  and  twenty-one  links,  thence  South,  72  1-2  °,  West, 
fifteen  rods  and  eleven  links  to  Taunton  road  —  all  said  courses  by 
land  of  Nathaniel  French :  thence  Southerly  on  Taunton  road  three 
rods  and  fifteen  links  to  the  point  of  beginning  —  being  the  same 
parcel  of  land  conveyed  by  Lemuel  Whiting  to  Isaac  llorton,  by  deed 
dated  June  30,  1812,  and  recorded  with  Norfolk  Deeds,  Lib.  41,  folio 
247  ;  said  estate  descended  to  us,  the  grantors,  as  heirs  at  law  of  the 
said  Isaac  Horton,  named  in  the  said  deed,  now  deceased." 


How  Mary  Redman,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Spurr,  jr.,"\me  of  the  three 
surviving  daughters  named  in  the  will  of  her  father,  the  elder  Robert 
Redman,  thereby  taking  one-fifth  of  one  half  of  his  real  estate,  after 
the  deatli  of  her  mother,  who  survived  her  several  years,  came  to  own 
Alexander  Fisher's  Pond  Pasture  and  the  Nathaniel  French  estate  we 
cannot  now  fully  explain  by  record  —  but  it  was  inventoried  under 
oath  as  her  estate. 

(1.)  The  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Mary  Spurr,  widow,  returned 
March  17,  1780. 

"To  piece  of  land  containing  22  acres  with  part  of  a  house  thereon 
£1200."   appraised  by  JAMES     ENDICOTT. 

\VM.   WHEELER. 
NATH'L   FISHER, 

Redman  Spurr    her    eldest   surviving   son   was   the    administrator  on 
her  estate. 


28 

Then  again  see  Probate  Records,  Boston,  Vol.  82,  folio  353,  the 
real  estate  of  said  Mary  Redman,  was  appraised  for  settlement  pur- 
suant to  warrant  of  the  Judge  of  Probate  directed  to 

JAMES   HAWKES  LEWIS. 
ADAM   BLACKMAN. 
NATH'L   FISHER. 

and  they  find  it  to  be  "  mowing,  orcharding,  pasture  and  swamp,  not 
capable  of  division,''''  and  that  the  value  of  it  is  £6.  si  5.  d8.  silver 
money,  per  acre  and  containing  21  acres,  and  all  appraised  at  the  sum 
of  £142.  s9.  lawful  money. 

(  N.  B.     By  lawful  money  is  meant  $3.33^  to  a  pound.) 

( 2.)  Redman  Spurr,  the  eldest  son  of  widow  Mary  Spurr,  was 
entitled,  by  the  statutes  of  descent  then  in  force,  to  a  double  portion 
—  and  though  the  estate  was  returned  incapable  of  division,  there  is 
no  record  showing  that  it  was  all  set  off  to  him,  nor  are  there  upon 
record  deeds  or  any  deed  to  him  of  their  shares  from  his  brothers  and 
sisters  or  either  of  them  —  but  conveyances  of  the  whole  through 
Redman  Spurr  have  been  ever  since  acquiesced  in  without  contro- 
versy.—  And  in  the  deed  of  Archibald  McKendry  to  Isaac  Billings, 
dated  April  11,  1789,  recorded  Norfolk  Records  of  Deeds,  Book  33, 
folio  49  and  50,  of  the  Nath'l  French  estate,  is  this  recital,  "  it  being 
apart  of  the  land  I  bought  of  Redman  Spurr  some  time  since"  ;  and 
in  the  deed  of  the  Easterly  portion  of  the  Pond  Pasture  by  said 
McKendry  to  Ezekiel  Fisher,  dated  April  2,  1790,  and  proved  and 
recorded  July  6,  1870,  said  Redman  Spurr,  is  a  subscribing  wit- 
ness. 

(  3.)  There  must  have  been  a  deed  by  Redman  Spurr  to  Archibald 
McKendry  who  died  in  the  year  1806,  of  Fisher's  Pond  Pasture 
and  of  the  Nath'l  French  estate,  but  no  such  deed  was  recorded  in 
Suffolk  County  Records  of  Deeds,  nor  in  Norfolk  County  Records  of 
Deeds  ;  and  John  and  William,  sons  of  Archibald  McKendry,  have 
searched  but  cannot  find  the  original  deed. — 

Third.     Of  Fisher's  Pond  Pasture. 

(  4.)     Archibald  McKendry  by  deed  dated  June  26,  1788,  recorded 


29 

Book  10,  folio  82,  for  £28,  sl2  and  <74,  conveyed  to  Ezekiel  Fish- 
er, Jr.  : — 

"A  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  lying  in  said  Stoughton-*,  con- 
taining eight  acres  and  twenty-nine  rods  of  land,  by  measure,  bound- 
ing Southerly  on  land  that  belongs  to  the  widow  Jerusha  Billings  or 
her  son  Robert  Billings,  Northerly  on  land  of  Seth  Strobridge's, 
Easterly  and  Westerly  on  the  remainder  of  the  said  McKendry's  land, 
also  said  Fisher  is  to  have  a  leading  way,  road  or  lane  provided 
by  said  MeKendry,  from  the  Westerly  end  of  the  above  granted  land, 
next  to  land  that  belongs  unto  the  heirs  of  Elijah  Crane,  deceased,  to 
the  Country  road,  so  as  to  drive  a  team  with  a  cart  and  other  neces- 
sary uses,  to  pass  and  repass  to  and  from  the  same,  said  Fisher  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  to  shut  proper  gates  and  put  up  bars  proper  for  securing 
the  land,  and  said  MeKendry  to  make  and  maintain  suitable  gates  or 
bars  for  the  same,  also  said  MeKendry  reserves  aright  for  himself,  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  to  pass  and  repass  acrost  the  above  described  land 
sold  by  him  to  said  Fisher,  unto  his  land  at  the  Masterly  end  of  the 
same,  by  a  leading  way,  or  to  pass  or  repass  with  a  team,  he  to  shut 
gates  or  put  up  bars. necessary  to  secure  the  land,  which  pates  and 
bars  are  to  be  provided  by  said  Fisher  ;  also  said  McKendrj  is  to  dig  a 
suitable  Ditch  acrost  his  land  at  the  Easterly  end  of  the  above  grant- 
ed piece  of  land,  so  that  the  water  may  run  to  the  Easter  most  point 
of  the  above  granted  land;  and  said  Fisher  is  to  have  free  liberty  to 
turn  the  water  that  runs  in  a  Ditch  between  Mr.  Lewis'  and  said 
McKendry's  land  in  said  Ditch,  so  as  to  bring  the  water  into  the 
Easternmost  point  of  said  Fisher's  land  to  water  his  cattle,  &c.  in  the 
best  manner  he  can,  all  which  bounds  of  the  same  land  may  more  fully 
appear  by  a  plan  of  the  same  granted  land  drawn  by  Abner  Crane, 
which  is  hereunto  annexed." 

(  ").)  Archibald  MeKendry,  by  deed  dated  April  2,  1790,  wit- 
nessed by  Redman  Spurr,  and  proved  in  Probate  Court  and  recorded 
July  6,  1870,  conveyed  to  Ezekiel  Fisher,  Jr.,  '*  a  certain  piece  of 
land  lying  in  said  StOUghton,  containing  by  estimation  six  acres,  be 
the  same  more  or  less,  bounded  as  followeth,  viz  :  Beginning  at  the 
Northeast  corner  of  said  Ezekiel  Fisher's  land,  he  lately  boughl  of 
said  MeKendry  before,  and  running  Easterly,  bounding  Northerly 
on  Seth  Strowbridge's  land,  then  running  Northerly  bounding  on  Baid 
Strowbridge's  land  on  the  Fond  Hank,  so  called,  until  it  conn-  to 
land  of  -lames  llawkes  Lewis:    then  running  Masterly  on  an  old  ditch 


30 

to  a  crotched  tree  and  bounding  on  said  Lewis'  land,  still  on  Easterly 
to  a  stake  and  bounding  on  the  Pond  Bogs,  then  running  Westerly 
bounding  on  Doct.  John  Sprague's  land  until  it  comes  to  said  Fisher's 
land,  then  it  bounds  Westerly  on  said  Fisher's  land  till  it  comes  to 
the  bounds  first  mentioned — to  be  computed  as  the  fence  and  bounds 
now  stand  —  being  all  said  McKendry's  land  Easterly  of  said 
Fisher's." 

(  6.)  In  1807  partition  was  made  as  before  stated  of  Ezekiel  Fish- 
er's real  estate  among  his  heirs,  and  the  whole  set  to  his  son,  Alexander 
Fisher,  and  among  the  lots  set  out  in  the  return  on  the  warrant  was  :  — 

"  The  Pond  pasture  so  called,  containing  14  acres,  0  qrs.,  29  rods, 
was  purchased  by  said  deceased  of  Archibald  McKendry,  at  two  sepa- 
rate purchases,  is  bounded  Northerly  on  lands  of  heirs  of  James  H. 
Lewis,  deceased, Westerly  on  lands  of  Seth  Strobridge,  Southeasterly  on 
lands  of  John  Tucker,  and  Easterly  on  lands  of  said  James  II.  Lewis."' 

(  7. )  Alexander  Fisher,  by  deed  dated  20th  June,  1870,  recorded 
Sept.  8th,  1870,  in  consideration  of  $700.  conveyed  to  Henry  L.  Pierce 
"  a  certain  tract  of  land,  situate  in  Canton  aforesaid,  being  a  part  of 
the  Redman  farm,  anciently  so  called,  and  supposed  to  contain  four- 
teen acres  and  twenty-nine  rods,  sometimes  called  the  Pond  Pasture, 
and  bounded  Easterly  by  land  of  said  Henry  L.  Pierce,  purchased  by 
him  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Capt.  William  Tucker,  Southerly  in  part 
by  the  homestead  of  Nathaniel  French  and  in  part  by  land  of  said 
Pierce,  purchased  by  him  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Isaac  Horton,  North- 
erly by  the  Puffer  Ditch,  sometimes  called  the  Gerald  Ditch,  where 
the  bogs  or  boggy  part  of  the  conveyed  premises  is  supposed  to  come 
to,  or  terminate  in  an  angle,  where  one  long  stake  deep  in  ground 
and  pointed  at  the  bottom,  old  at  the  top  apparently  and  new  as  in 
the  bog,  is  in  the  Westerly  bank  of  the  said  Puffer  Ditch,  and  anoth- 
er stake  is  near  by  in  the  middle  of  the  ditch  ;  Northerly  by  the  bog 
or  cranberry  meadow  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Hanscom,  and  by  the  Northerly 
boundary  line  as  described  as  the  Northerly  boundary  lines  in  two 
deeds  from  Archibald  McKendry  to  my  father  Ezekiel  Fisher;  the 
first  of  which  deeds  is  dated  June  26,  1788,  and  recorded  in  the 
Norfolk  Registry  of  deeds,  Lib.  10,  folio  82  ;  the  second  of  which  deeds 
is  dated  April  2,  1790,  and  as  yet  is  unrecorded — meaning  to  convey 
hereby  the  same  premises  conveyed  by  said  McKendry  to  my  father 
by  the  aforesaid  deeds,  and  the  bogs  thereto  belonging  and  nothing 
more  ;   referring  to  said  deeds.'' 


15 

The  executors  of  Robert  Redman's  will  rendered  their  account  in 
1771  in  which  they  recite  that  they  had  sold  1'  19  in  value  of  real  es- 
tate to  pay  debts. 

For  the  purpose  of  a  history  of  the  Redman  Farm  since  the  time 
when  Robert  Redman,  sen'r  died  seized  in  1760,  we  may  divide  the 
subject  into  four  parts,  viz:  — 

First,  of  the  Sprague  part  of  it;  of  which  the  two  Doctors  Sprague, 
father  and  son  died  seized  and  which  on  the  partition  of  the  real  estate 
of  the  latter  was  set  off  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Swett,  and  by  her  sold  to 
John  Tucker,  and  by  him  (except  the  triangular  acre  Smith  Westerly 
of  Stoughton  turnpike,  sold  to  his  son  Robert  Tucker,)  conveyed  to  his 
son  the  late  Capt.  Win.  Tucker. 

Second. — Of  the  Isaac  Norton  Kstate. 
Third.— Of  Mr.  Alex'r  Fisher"  s  Pond  Pasture. 
Fourth. — Of  the  Nath'l  French  estate. 

First,  then, — Of  the  Sprague  part  ofsaid  farm:  — 
1st  Samuel  Davenport,  and  Mary  Redman  executors  of  the  will  of 
Robert  Redman,  pursuant  to  license  of  the  August  Term  1770.  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Judicature  held  at  Boston,  by  deed  dated  Dec'r 
2,  1771,  recorded  Rook  124,  folio  170,  in  consideration  of  £  h>,  con- 
veyed to  Doct'r  John  Sprague  "a  certain  piece  of  land  lying  in  said 
Stoughton,  containing  fifteen  acres,  being  a  part  of  the  real  estate  of 
the  said  Robert  Redman,  deceased,  being  bounded  with  the  road  lead- 
ing through  Stoughton  the  breadth  of  one  rod,  or  26  links  ofGrunter's 
chain,  and  from  thence  the  granted  premises  runs  in  said  Sprague's 
line  (keeping  the  aforesaid  breadth  of  twenty  five  links)  and  running 
East,  eleven  and  an  half  degrees  North,  according  to  the  needle  the 
distance  of  nine  chains  and  seventy  two  links  to  a  fence,  at  which 
place  the  Northerly  line  ofsaid  piece  of  one  rod  wide  runs  Northerly 
at  right  angles  with  said  Sprague's  line,  so  far  as  to  complete  the  above 
quantity,  and  the  Southerly  line  continues  the  same  course  above 
written  the  distance  id' twenty-five  chains  and  ten  links  to  a  Make  and 
stones;  and  from  thence  the  line  runs  Easl  13  degrees  South  until  it 
comes  to  the  bogs  by  Punkapog  Pond,  and  from  thence  the  line  va- 
ries Easterly  and  Northerly,  running  between  said  bqgs  and  the  I 
or  swampy  land,  and  must  proceed  so  far  Northerly  as  that  a  straight 
line  running  parallel  with  the  first  mentioned  line  and  intersecting  tin' 


16 

line  above  said  that  makes  a  right   angle   with   Sprague's  line,  shall 
complete  the  full  cpiantity  of  fifteen  acres  of  land  above  granted." 

2nd.  The  will  of  John  Redman,  the  other  son  of  the  first  Robert 
Redman,  probated  Dec.  4,  1761,  before  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Judge 
of  Probate,  gave  to  his  mother,  "  the  Widow  Mary  Redman,  all  and 
singular  the  movables,  cloathing  and  every  thing  of  all  sorts  that  is 
my  estate  at  my  decease,  she  paying  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charg- 
es, by  her  and   her   heirs  to  be  possessed  and  forever  enjoyed." 

Subscribing  witnesses, 
John  McKendry,  Elijah  Crane,  John  Kenny. 

Robert  Redman  2nd.     His  agreement  of  division  with  his  mother : 

8.  This  agreement  made  the  twenty-third  day  of  March,  in  the 
eighth  year  of  his  Majesties  Reign  Annoque  Domini,  one  Thousand 
seven  hundred  and  sixty  eight,  between  Mary  Redman  of  Stoughton, 
in  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England,  and  the  widow  of  Robert  Redman  of  said  Town  and 
County,  yeoman,  deceased,  of  the  one  part,  and  her  son  Robert  Redman 
of  the  same  Town,  County  and  Province  aforesaid,  yeoman,  of  the 
other  part,  Witnesseth  that  the  said  Robert  Redman,  dec'd,  by  his  last 
Will  and  testament  gave  to  his  widow  the  improvement  of  one  half  of 
his  real  estate,  and  the  other  half  he  gave  to  his  son  Robert  as  by  said 
last  will  may  appear,  which  said  Real  estate  lying  in  Stoughton  afore- 
said, containing  about  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  more  or  less 
with  the  buildings  thereon,  is  bounded  Southerly  with  Punkapoag 
Brook,  Easterly  with  Punkapoag  Pond,  Northerly  with  the  lines  of 
lands  belonging  to  James  Hawkes  Lewis,  Elihu  Crane,  Samuel  Trow- 
bridge and  Elijah  Crane,  Westerly  with  the  great  road,  and  about 
sixteen  acres  of  land,  more  or  less,  lying  in  Braintree  near  the  afore- 
said pond,  both  of  said  parcels  of  land  have  hitherto  lain  in  common 
and  undivided  between  the  said  parties,  it  is  therefore  the  intent  of  these 
presents  that  a  perpetual  division  and  partition  of  the  above  men- 
tioned premises  and  other  real  estate  be  made  and  established  be- 
tween them  in  the  following  manner,  viz,  that  the  said  Mary  Redman 
shall  have  the  Northerly  half  part  on  which  the  dwelling  house  stands, 
and  all  the  dwelling  house  and  half  the  barn  which  is  also  on  the  same 
half  part  of  land  hereafter  described,  ( reserving  to  the  said  Robert 
Redman  or  his  legal  representatives  those  parts  of  the  dwelling  house 
that  he  now  occupies  without  control,  and  convenient  room  about  the 


17 

house  for  laying  wood  and  passing  to  and  fro  from  the  same  to  the 
barn  and  road  for  the  term  of  two  years  from  the  above  said  date,)  the 
aforesaid  Northerly  half  part  contains  about  fifty  nine  acres  of  land 
and  the  dividing  line  begins  at  a  stake  and  stone  East  of  the  road  and 
twenty  rods  to  the  Northward  of  the  aforesaid  brook,  and  from  thence 
runs  East  eleven  degrees  and  a  half  North  (according  to  the  needle,) 
the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty  one  rods  to  a  stake  and 
stone  heap,  and  from  thence  running  East  forty  three  degrees  and  a 
half  South  until  it  comes  to  the  above  said  Punkapoag  pond.  All  that 
part  of  the  premises  that  lies  to  the  Northward  or  North  Eastward  of 
the  above  dividing  line  is  in  full  of  the  said  widow  Mary  Redman's 
half  part  of  the  said  real  estate  herein  proposed  to  be  divided,  and  the 
said  Robert  Redman,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  shall  have  the  remaining 
half  part  that  lies  to  the  Southward  or  South  westward  of  the  above 
dividing  line,  containing  fifty  nine  acres  of  land,  more  or  less,  together 
with  the  abovesaid  sixteen  acres  of  land  lying  in  Brain  tree,  and  the  re- 
maining half  of  the  abovesaid  barn  in  common  witli  his  mother,  and 
convenient  room  about  said  half  for  cattle  and  for  passing  to  and  from 
the  said  barn  with  a  cart  or  cattle  at  all  times  proper  therefor,  so  long 
as  said  barn  shall  continue  to  be  useful  for  preserving  fodder  and 
housing  of  cattle,  but  not  to  have  any  use  of  any  of  the  lands  for  the 
aforesaid  purposes  after  the  said  half  part  of  the  barn  ceases  to  be  use- 
ful as  aforesaid  ;  all  which  is  in  full  of  the  said  Robert  Redman's  half 
part  of  the  real  estate  herein  proposed  to  be  divided. — Now  this 
Agreement  Witnesseth  for  the  confirmation  of  the  aforesaid  division, 
that  we,  the  parties  hereto,  Mary  Redman  and  Robert  Redman,  for  our- 
selves, our  heirs,  Ex'ors,  Adm'rs  and  assigns,  do  hereby  (1  rant,  as- 
sign, release,  quit-claim,  ratify  and  confirm,  each  unto  the  other,  all 
the  right,  title  and  interest  that  wre  now  have  in  or  ti>  tin'  divided 
premises  in  which  we  are  hereinbefore  excluded,  and  do  hereby  cove- 
nant each  with  the  other  to  warrant  and  defend  each  the  other  in  the 
quiet  possession  of  each  of  their  parts  and  shares  as  above  divided 
and  set  oil' to  them  against  the  lawful  claims  and  demands  of  all  per- 
sons whomsoever  legally  claiming  any  right,  title  or  interest  therein 
or  thereto,  from,  by,  or  under  us,  hereafter  l<>re\  er.  In  \\  Ltness  where- 
of we,  the  said  Mary  Redman  and  Robert  Redman,  have  hereunto  Bet 
our  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  tirst  above  written  :  —  Mary 
Redman  her  X  mark  and  seal.  Robert  Redman  and  seal.  Signed, 
Sealed  and  Delivered  in  the   presence  of  Joseph     ^spinwall,  John 

3 


18 

Billing.  Suffolk  ss.  Stoughton,  August  ye  19th,  17G8.  Then  .Ma- 
ry Rodman  and  Robert  Redman  above  named  personally  appeared 
and  acknowledged  the  foregoing  Instrument  to  be  their  free  act  and 
Deed. 

Before  me,     Elijah  Duxbar,  Just,  of  ye  Peace. 

September  15,  1768.     Reel'  and  accordingly  Entred  and  Examined. 

Ezek1  Goldthwaitt,  Regr" 

4.  Robert  Redman  (his  wife  Mary  joining,)  by  deed  dated  Sept.  25, 
1 769,  in  consideration  of  £  266.  s  13.  d  4,  recorded  in  Suffolk  Registry 
of  Deeds,  Book  115,  folio  210,  conveyed  to  John  Sprague  of  Boston, 
physician,  "  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land  lying  in  Stoughton 
aforesaid,  containing  fifty  nine  acres,  be  it  more  or  less,  being  bounded 
Southerly  on  Puukapog  Brook,  Easterly  on  Punkapog  Pond,  North- 
erly on  land  of  the  widow  Mary  Redman  and  Westerly  on  the  Great 
Road,  with  the  dwelling  house,  barn   and  fences  thereon  standing;" 

Robert  Redman's  (2nd.)  will,  witnesses  John  McKendry,  Seth 
Strobridge,  John  Kinney,  probated  July  17,  1778,  not  material, 
as  he  sold  and  conveyed  all  his  real  estate  before  his  decease. 

5.  Robert  Billings,  (his  wife  Olive  joining,)  he  the  son  of  Jerusha 
Redman,  wife  of  Seth  Billings,  by  deed  dated  March  31, 1789,  recorded 
in  Suffolk  Registry,  Book  164,  folio  257,  in  consideration  of  £15, 
lawful   money,   conveyed  to  John  Sprague, — 

"  One  messuage,  or  tract  of  land,  situate  in  Stoughton,  containing 
eight  acres  and  au  half  exactly,  butted  and  bounded  as  follows,  viz  : 
beginning  at  a  stake  marked  in  the  swamp  on  Doct.  John  Sprague's 
Northerly  line,  four  rods  East  of  Punkapog  Pond  bank,  so  called,  thence 
running  Westerly,  bounded  on  said  Sprague's  land,  so  far  as  that  by 
turning  at  right  angles  with  said  line  to  complete  said  eight  acres  and 
an  half,  thence  turning  Northerly  a  straight  line  to  Archibald  McKen- 
dry's  land,  to  a  stake  and  stones,  then  turning  Easterly,  bounding  on 
said  McKendry's  land  to  a  stake  in  the  swamp  four  rods  East  of  the 
pond  bank  aforesaid,  thence  Southerly  to  the  stake  first  mentioned."' 

Note.  We  find  no  deed  of  conveyance  to  Robert  Billings,  but  it  was 
doubtless  conveyed  to  him  by  his  mother  while  the  widow  of  Seth  Bil- 
lings or  shortly  after  she  married  Nath'l  Pittee,  by  a  deed  never  re- 
corded. 


19 

6.  Nathaniel  Pittee  and  Jerusha  his  wife,  (formerly  the  widow  of 
Seth  Billings,)  hy  deed  dated  April  27,  1789,  recorded  in  Suffolk  Reg- 
istry,  Book  166,  folio  258 — 9,  in  consideration  of  thirty  shillings,  con- 
veyed to  John  Sprague  of  Boston,  physician  :  — 

"  One  messuage,  or  tract  of  swamp  land,  situate,  lying  and  being 
in  Stoughton  aforesaid,  containing  by  estimation  four  acres,  be  the 
same  more  or  less,  butted  and  bounded  as  follows,  viz  :  beginning  at 
a  stake  at  the  Easterly  corner  of  alot  lately  purchased  by  said  Sprague 
of  Robert  Billings,  thence  Easterly  a  straight  line  bounding  on 
said  Sprague's  swamp,  till  it  comes  to  a  stake  on  Punkapog  Pond 
bogs:  thence  turning  Northerly  to  a  stake  on  Archibald  McKen dry's 
swamp,  thence  turning  Northerly  to  a  stake  on  Archibald  McKendry's 
swamp,  thence  Westerly  hounding  on  said  McKendry's  swamp,  till  it 
comes  to  a  stake  at  the  Northeast  corner  of  the  lot  that  said  Sprague 
bought  of  Robert  Hillings  aforesaid,  thence  running  Southerly, 
bounding  on  said  Sprague  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned." 

7.  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Doct'r  John  Sprague,  returned  1797. 
Among  his  lands  in  Canton  were,— 

"  4  acres  purchased  of  Nathaniel  Pcttee, 
59  acres  purchased  of  Robert  Redman, 
8  acres  and  2  quarters  purchased  of  Robert  Billings, 


71 — 2,  joining  at  §24.  per  acre.  S  1716."' 

8.  Partition  of  Doct.  John  Sprague's  lands,  confirmed  in   Probate 
Court,  January  2,  1798  ;  set  off  to  his  son,  Doct.  John  Sprague, — 

"  also  4  acres  of  land  purchased  of  Xathl  Pettee. 

59  acres   with   a  house    and   barn    thereon,  pur- 
chased of  Robert   Redman. 

8  acres  ami  one  half  purchased  of  Roberl  Billin 

The  three  last  mentioned  pieces  joining  together,  being 
71  acres  &  \  we  appraised  at  $2  1.  per    acre.  8  171<;." 

9.  The  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  the  2nd.   Doct.  John  Sprague,  re- 
turned July  1,  1800,  containing  among  other  lands, — 

"  71  aires.  2  quarters,  called  the  Redman  farm  and  lot- 
adjoining,  $21.  per  acre,  $1716" 


20 

10.  Partition  of  the  lands  of  the  2nd.  Doct.  John  Sprague,  accept- 
ed in  Probate  Court,  January  6,  1801, — 

"To   Elizabeth    Swett,  set   oif  share  number    7,"    (there  being  9 

heirs.) 

acres,  qrs. 

"  Land  purchased  of  Robert  Redman,  59,      0,     0 

Do.  "        of  Sam'l  Davenport  and  Mary  Redman,  15,       0,     0 

Do.  "        of  Robert  Billings,  8,       2,     0 

Do.  "        of  Nath'l  Pettee,  4,      0,     0 


joining  together  in  Canton,  86,       2,     0 

with  an  old  house  and  barn  thereon,  by  deeds  by  measure,  81  acres 
3  qrs.  36  rods.  $  1819" 

11.  Samuel  Swett  and  Elizabeth  Swett,  his  wife,  (a  daughter  of  the 
2nd.  Doct.  John  Sprague,)  in  her  right,  in  consideration  of  $2000, 
by  deed  dated  April  1,  1803,  acknowledged  May  27,  1803,  recorded 
Oct.  3,  1809,  Norfolk  Records  of  Deeds,  Lib.  35,  folio  46  and  47,  con- 
veyed to  John  Tucker  : — 

"  A  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  situated  and  being  in  the  town 
of  Canton,  in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  called  the  Redman  Farm,  contain- 
ing by  estimation  about  eighty  six  acres,  and  is  butted  and  bounded  as 
follows,  viz:  Westerly  on  the  road  leading  from  Boston  to  Taunton, 
Northerly  on  lands  owned  by  heirs  of  Melatiah  Gooch,  Lemuel  Whit- 
ing, Isaac  Billings,  heirs  of  Ezekiel  Fisher  and  heirs  of  James  Hawkes 
Lewis,  till  it  strikes  Punkapog  pond,  Easterly  on  said  Punkapog  Pond, 
Southerly  on  lands  owned  by  Elijah  Fenno,  Jonathan  Farrington  and 
Punkapog  brook  till  it  comes  to  the  sawmill  dam,  thence  on  land  of 
said  Jonathan  Farrington  and  said  Punkapog  brook  till  it  comes  to 
Taunton  road  aforesaid,  together  with  a  small  old  house,  barn,  and  on 
fourth  part  of  the  sawmill  with  all  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereto 
belonging  ;  containing  as  aforesaid  by  estimation  about  eighty  six  acres, 
be  the  same  more  or  less,  or  however  the  same  may  be  butted  or 
bounded,  which  farm  or  tract  of  land  aforesaid  was  set  off  to  the  said 
Elizabeth  on  a  division  among  the  heirs  of  her  father  John  Sprague, 
late  of  Dedham,  deceased,  as  will  more  fully  appear  in  the  book  of 
the  Registry  of  Probate  for  the  County  of  Norfolk  there  recorded  the 
sixth  day  of  January  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  one." 


21 

12.  John  Tucker  by  deed  dated  June  3,  1823,  recorded  Book  70, 
folio  9,  conveyed  to  his  son  William  Tucker  in  consideration  of  $40 

"  A  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  with  a  dwelling  house,  barn  and 
out  Buildings  thereon,  situated  in  Canton  aforesaid,  contains  as  esti- 
mated eighty  acres,  more  or  less,  bounded  as  follows,  viz:  Northerly  in 
part  on  the  line  of  Isaac  Horton's  land  as  the  fence  now  stands,  and 
partly  on  the  line  of  Alexander  Fisher's  land  as  the  fence  now  stands, 
and  partly  on  the  line  of  land  of  heirs  of  the  late  James  II.  Lewis  and 
over  the  bogs  to  Punkapoag  pond  ;  Easterly  on  said  pond  extending  so 
far  Southerly  as  to  strike  Punkapog  Brook,  Southerly  on  said  Brook 
leading  from  said  pond  to  French  and  Tucker's  Grist  and  Saw  mill 
till  it  comes  to  the  dam,  and  so  on  following  the  old  brook  till  it  comes 
to  Stoughton  turnpike  road,  thence  turning  and  running  Northerly  in 
part  on  said  turnpike  road  and  partly  on  the  old  road  till  it  strikes 
said  Isaac  Horton's  corner." 

13  By  deed  dated  Sept'r  10,  18G9,  recorded  Lib.  381,  folio  211, 
the  three  daughters  and  heirs  of  Capt.  Wm.  Tucker,  viz;  Sarah  F. 
McKendry,  wife  of  J.  Howard  McKendry,  Caroline  T.  McKendry, 
wife  of  William  McKendry  Jr,  and  Almira  T.  Wyman,  wife  of  George 
H.  Wyman,  (the  widow  of  Capt.  Wm.  Tucker,  joining)  in  consideration 
of  818000.  conveyed  to  Henry  L.  Pierce,  besides  sonic  on!  lands. 

"The  homestead  farm  of  the  late  William  Tucker,  deceased,  situ- 
ate in  that  part  of  said  Canton  called  Punkapog  and  bounded  Easter- 
ly by  the  Punkapog  Pond;  Southerly  by  the  Punkapoag  Brook  ;  V 
erly  by  the  highway,  which  was  formerly  the  Stoughton  turnpike  and 
Northerly  by  land  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Isaac  Morton,  deceased,  and 
land  of  Alexander  Fisher,  till  it  comes  to  a  corner  of  the  lands  of 
Isaac  Horton,  lands  of  Nathaniel  French,  lands  of  Alexander  Fisher, 
and  of  the  granted  premises  ;  thence  running  Easterly  along  a  wall  on 
the  line  of  Alexander  Fisher's  land,  thirteen  chains  to  a  slight  angle  in 
the  wall;  thence  by  said  wall  in  part,  and  in  part  by  the  remains  of  an 
old  fence,  and  for  the  residue  of  the  distance  without  either  wall  or 
fence,  South  85°  East,  twentj  five  chains  and  ninety  two  links,  all  the 
way  on  the  line  of  land  of  Alexander  Fisher,  to  a  stake  in  the  Gerald 
Ditch,  so  called, 'which  is  a  corner  of  land  of  Alexander  Fisher,  of 
Mrs  Rebecca  Hanscom,  wife  of  Thomas  Hanscom  and  of  the  granted 
premises;  thence  by  the  centre  of  the  said  Gerald  Ditch,  >'.  2j-  \V. 
to  the  Punkapoag  Pond." 


22 

John  Tucker,  in  consideration  of  $100.  by  deed  dated  May  20, 
1 822,  recorded  Lib.  66 ,  folio  258,  conveyed  to  his  son,  Robert  Tucker, — 

"  A  certain  piece  or  lot  of  land,  situated  in  said  Canton,  contains, 
as  estimated,  one  acre,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  and  is  bounded  in 
manner  following,  that  is  to  say,  Northwesterly  on  Taunton  road,  so 
called,  Easterly  on  Stoughton  Turnpike  road,  and  Southwesterly  on 
Punkapog  Brook,  till  it  comes  to  Taunton  road  aforesaid ; 

And  this  same  land  now  granted  and  sold  was  heretofore  a  part  of 
my  homestead  farm,  but  was  intersected  and  cut  off  therefrom  by 
building  the  aforesaid  Stoughton  Turnpike  road." 


How  Jerusha,  (  one  of  the  three  surviving  daughters  named  in  the 
will  of  her  father,  Eobert  Redman  the  elder,  thereby  taking  one  fifth 
of  one  half  of  all  his  real  estate,  after  the  death  of  her  mother,)  the 
wife  of  Seth  Billings,  and  who  after  Billings'  death  married  Nathaniel 
Pittee,  came  to  own  not  only  the  four  acres  she  sold  to  Dr.  Sprague, 
27  April,  1789,  and  the  eight  and  a  half  acres  she  must  have  con- 
veyed to  her  son,  Robert  Billings,  who  sold  the  same  to  Dr.  Sprague, 
March  31,  1789,  but  also  the  homestead  estate  of  the  late  Isaac  Hor- 
ton,  we  cannot  fully  explain  by  record,  but  conveyances  of  all  the 
same  under  her  have  ever  since  been  acquiesced  in  without  contro- 
versy. 

Second. — Of  the  estate  of  the  late  Isaac  Horton  :  — 

1.  Nath'l  Pittee  and  Jerusha  Pettee,  wife  of  said  Nathl,  for  £5 
lawful  money,  conveyed  unto  her  daughter,  Zeruiah  Grooch,  wife  of 
Samuel  Gooch,  by  deed  dated  April  10,  1795,  recorded  in  Norfolk 
Registry  of  Deeds,  Lib.  5,  folio  184, — 

"  A  certain  spot  of  land  for  a  house  lot,  lying  in  said  Stoughton, 
and  bounded  as  follows,  viz :  being  on  the  Southeasterly  side  of 
the  Country  Road  leading  from  Boston^to  Taunton,  and  is  bounded 
on  said  road,  beginning  on  said  road  at  Doct.  Sprague's  corner, 
thence  running  as  the  fence  now  stands  on  said  road  Northwesterly 
two  rods  and  eight  feet,  thence  an  Easterly  course  a  straight  line  four 
rods  and  eight  feet  to  a  stake  and  stones,  bounding  Northwesterly  on 
laud  of  said  Nathaniel  and  Jerusha.  Thence  turning  and  running  a 
straight  line,  Southerly  two  rods  and  eight  feet,  striking  the  fence  of 
said  Doct'r  Sprague's  at  his  land,  thence  Westerly  as  the  fence  now 
stands  till  it  comes  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned.  —  And  also, 
we,  the  said  Nathaniel  and  Jerusha,  do  by  these   presents  grant,  sell, 


23 

convey  and  confirm  unto  her,  the  said  Zeruiah  Gooch,  her  heirs  aud 
assigns  forever,  the  privilege  and  indulgence  of  going  to  and  from 
the  well,  that  we,  the  said  Nath'l  and  Jerusha  do  now  improve,  in 
order  that  water  may  he  had  therefrom  for  the  use  of  said  Zeruiah 
and  heirs  as  aforesaid,  and  the  said  Zeruiah  and  heir.-  arc  laid  under 
the  injunction  of  pursuing  the  nearesl  course  possible  from  the  house 
now  building  on  the  above  described  spot  of  land  to  the  path  leading 
from  the  before  mentioned  road  to  said  Nath'l  and  Jerusha's  house  and 
so  on  in  their  path  to  said  well  and  at  all  times  to  return  in  the  like 
manner." 

2.  Samuel  Gooch  and  Zeruiah  Gooch,  his  wife,  mortgage,  by  deed 
dated  29  April,  1795,  recorded  in  Norfolk  Registry,  Lib.  '•),  folio  2  17, 
to  Ezekiel  Fisher  :  — 

"  A  certain  tract  or  lot  of  land,  being  in  Stoughton,  in  the  County 
of  Norfolk,  a  quarter  of  an  acre,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  bounded 
as  follows :  Westerly  on  the  Country  road  leading  from  Taunton  to 
Boston,  and  being  two  rods  and  eight  feet  on  said  road,  then  turning 
Easterly  with  a  straight  line  four  rods  and  eight  feet,  then  turning 
Southerly  with  a  square  corner  two  rods  and  eight  feet  to  the  land  of 
Dr.  John  Sprague,  then  running  Westerly  on  said  Sprague's  land  till 
it  comes  to  the  road  first  mentioned  with  a  house  thereon  standing. 

Provided,  Nevertheless,  if  the  said  Samuel  Gooch  or  Zeruiah  (I h, 

their  heirs,  executors,  or  administrators,  pay  to  the  said  Ezekiel 
Fisher,  his  heirs,  executors,  or  administrators,  or  assigns,  the  sum  of 
ten  pounds,  lawful  money,  of  said  Massachusetts,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  May,  which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-six,  then  this  Deed,  also  a  note  of  hand 
bearing  even  date  with  these  presents,  given  by  the  said  Samuel  and 
Zeruiah  Gooch  to  the  said  Ezekiel  Fisher,  conditioned  to  pay  the 
same  sum  and  interest  at  the  time  aforesaid,  then  both  to  he  void  and 
of  no  effect,  otherwise  shall  remain  in  lull  force." 

3.  "  Know  ail  Men  by  these  Pkesents  That  [,  Samuel  Gooch, 
together  with  Zeruiah  Gooch,  my  wife,  who  is  deceased,  did.  mi  the 
twenty-ninth  day  of  April,  A.  I).,  1795,  make  and  execute  unto  I 
kiel  Fisher  of  Canton,  a  Mortgage  Deed  of  a  small  piece  of  land  and 
house  thereon,  and  whereas,  by  reason  of  Bickness,  together  with  the 
expense  of  a  large  family,  no  part  of  said  mortgage  is  paid,  the  prin- 
cipal thereof  being  originally   thirty-three  dollars   and   one- third  of  a 


24 

dollar,  which  is  now  due  with  Int.  thereon,  and  whereas  said  Ezekiel 
Fisher  has  assigned  and  transferred  this  same  mortgage  over  to  Lem'l 
Whiting  of  said  Canton,  Gent.,  this  same  mortgage  contains  ahout 
one  fourth  of  an  acre  of  land  with  a  small  house  thereon,  being  in 
Canton  aforesaid,  particulars  thereof  may  appear  by  said  mortgage. 

Now  I,  the  said  Sam'l  Gooch,  do  hereby  give  unto  said  Ezekiel 
Fisher,  full  possession  of  said  premises,  mortgaged  as  aforesaid,  he 
to  occupy,  possess,  improve  and  enjoy  the  same  by  virtue  of  said 
mortgage,  free  from  molestation,  disturbance  or  hindrance  of  any 
kind,  made  or  offered  by  said  Samuel.  In  witness  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  31st  August,  A.  D„  1801. 

Attest,  Joseph  Bemis,  SAMUEL  GOOCH,  [Seal."] 

Nathan  Ckane. 

4.  In  the  year  1807  partition  was  made  of  the  real  estate  of  Eze- 
kiel Fisher  who  died  in  1802,  and  among  the  lots  of  land  of  which 
appraisal  was  first  made  preliminary  to  the  partition,  was,  — 

"  About  one-fourth  of  an  acre  of  land  lying  in  said  Canton,  with  an 
old,  small  building  thereon,  bounded  Westerly  on  Taunton  road,  and 
every  other  way  conformable  to  the  description  of  these  same  prem- 
ises as  mentioned  in  a  mortgage  deed,  made  and  executed  unto  the 
said  deceased  by  Samuel  Gooch  and  Zeruiah  Gooch,  his  wife,  refer- 
ence to  said  deed  being  had, — and  said  deceased  became  legally  pos- 
sessed of  the  aforesaid  premises,  by  virtue  of  said  mortgage." 

The  commissioners  to  make  partition,  assigned  the  whole  of  said 
real  estate  to  Alexander  Fisher,  one  of  the  nine  heirs,  said  heirs  and 
the  guardians  of  those  who  were  minors  assenting  thereto,  said  Alex'r 
paying  the  eight  others  money  to  the  value  of  their  shares. 

5.  Alexander  Fisher,  by  deed  dated  23  Feb.,  1809,  recorded  Book 
33,  folio  125,  conveyed  to  Lemuel  Whiting: — 

"  All  my  right,  title  and  interest,  which  I  now  have,  or  ever 
heretofore  had,  in  and  to  a  certain  small  piece  of  land,  lying  in  said 
Canton,  containing  about  one-fourth  of  an  acre,  more  or  less,  with  a 
small  building  thereon,  improved  by  said  Whiting,  as  a  Retailer's 
Shop,  a  particular  description  of  the  aforesaid  premises  may  appear 
by  a  mortgage  deed,  made  and  executed  by  Samd  Gooch  and   Zeri- 


25 

diah  Gooeh,  his  wife,  unto  the  late  Ezekiel  Fisher  of  said  Canton, 
dee'd,  the  same  bearing  date  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  April.  A.  I». 
1795,  and  is  recorded  with  the  Register  of  Deeds  for  Norfolk  County, 
Lib.  3,  Folio  247.  And  possession  of  said  premises  was  given  unto 
the  said  Ezekiel  Fisher,  dec'd,  as  aforesaid,  by  the  said  Samuel 
Gooch,  as  per  instrument  under  his  hand  and  seal,  bearing  date  the 
31  day  of  August,  A.  D.,  1801,  will  appear.  And  these  same  prem- 
ises being  appraised  as  the  estate  of  the  said  Ezekiel  Fisher,  dec'd, 
as  aforesaid,  and  were  assigned  to  me  the  said  Alexander,  being  one 
of  the  heirs  of  said  deceased's  Estate,  as  per  appraisement  and  divi- 
sion of  said  deceased's  Estate,  presented  to  Probate  for  Norfulk 
County,  and  accepted  March  3,  1807,  will  appear." 

6.  Nath'l  Pittee  and  Jerusha  his  wife,  "  in  her  right,"  (£26,  10s,) 
by  deed  dated  3  March,  1794,  recorded  Lib.  5,  folio  237,  convey 
to   Samuel  Canterbury, 

"  a  certain  piece  of  land  lying  in  said  Stoughton,  containing  four 
acres  and  one-quarter  by  measure,  bounding  Northeasterly  on  Doctor 
John  Sprague's  land  next  to  Punkepoge  Pond,  Northwesterly  on 
Capt.  Isaac  Billings'  land,  Southeasterly  on  the  said  Doctor  John 
Sprague's  land,  and  to  extend  so  far  from  the  Northeasterly  end,  (viz,) 
from  the  end  next  to  the  pond,  down  towards  said  Pittee's,  house  as 
to  make  up  the  same  four  acres  and  a  quarter,  being  eight  of  Gunters' 
chains  and  eighty  six  links  long  on  the  line  of  said  Isaac  Billing's 
land,  and  eight  of  Gunter's  chains  and  eighty  six  links  long  on  the 
Southerly  side." 

7  Samuel  Canterbury,  $130,  by  deed  dated  4th  August,  1807,  re- 
corded Book  29,  folio  48,  conveyed  to  Lemuel  Whiting  : 

"  A  certain  piece  or  parcel,  laying  and  being  in  Canton,  containing 
four  acres  and  one  quarter  by  measure,  bounded  as  follows,  viz: 
Northeasterly  on  land  of  Capt.  John  Tucker,  Northwesterly  OD  land 
of  Capt.  Isaac  Billing,  Southeasterly  on  said  Lemuel  Whiting's  land. 
Southeasterly  on  land  of  said  John  Tucker,  or  however  otherways 
bounded  or  reputed  to  be  bounded,  subjeel  to  the  incumbrance  of  a 
mortgage  held  by  Oliver  Downs  of  the  same  premises,  conditioned 
to  pay  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars." 
4 


26 

8.  Nathaniel  Pettee  and  Jerusha  Pettee,  his  wife,  in  consideration  of 
$475.  by  deed  dated  29  Oct.  1800,  recorded  Lib.  21,  folio  82,  con- 
veyed to  Lemuel  Whiting  :  — 

"  A  certain  piece  of  upland,  with  a  small  house  thereon,  and  a 
shelter  to  keep  one  cow  from  the  weather,  lying  in  Canton,  containing 
by  estimation  four  acres  and  thirty-seven  rods,  be  the  same  more  or 
less,  and  is  bounded  as  follows,  viz  :  —  Southerly,  on  land  of  the  heirs 
of  Dr.  John  Sprague,  Easterly  on  land  of  Samuel  Canterbury,  South- 
erly on  land  of  Capt.  Isaac  filling,  and  Westerly  on  the  highway 
and  on  land  of  Samuel  Gooch,  or  however  otherwise  bounded." 

9.  Lemuel  Whiting,  for  $900.  by  deed  dated  June  30,  1812,  re- 
corded Book  41,  folio  247,  conveyed  to  Isaac  Horton  :  — 

"  A  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  lying  and  being  in  Canton 
aforesaid,  with  all  the  buildings  standing  thereon,  and  these  same 
premises  contain  eight  acres,  two  quarters  and  nine  rods,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  and  is  bounded  as  follows,  viz  :  beginning  at  a  corner 
at  land  of  Capt.  John  Tucker,  on  Taunton  road,  thence  running  a 
Northeasterly  and  Northwesterly  course  as  the  fence  now  stands, 
bounding  Southerly  and  Northerly  all  the  way  on  lands  of  said  John 
Tucker,  till  it  comes  to  a  corner  of  Alexander  Fisher's  land,  thence 
bounding  Northeasterly  on  said  Fishers  land  till  it  comes  to  the  grant- 
or's own  land,  thence  running  a  Southwesterly  course,  as  the  fence 
now  stands,  till  it  comes  to  said  Taunton  road,  bounding  all  the  way 
on  the  grantor's  land  which  he  bought  of  Capt.  Isaac  Billings,  till  it 
comes  to  said  Taunton  road,  thence  running  Southerly  on  said  Taunton 
road  till  it  strikes  said  Tucker's  corner  first  mentioned,  or  however 
otherwise  bounded  or  reputed  to  be  bounded,  they  being  the  same 
premises  which  I  bought  at  three  several  purchases,  viz :  in  part  of 
Nathaniel  Pettee  and  Jerusha  his  wife,  in  part  of  Samuel  Canterbury 
and  partly  of  Alexander  Fisher." 

10.  Wm.  Horton,  Isaac  Horton,  Elisha  Horton  and  Mary  H.  Tucker, 
widow,  heirs  of  the  late  Isaac  Horton,  by  deed  dated  November  1, 
1869,  and  recorded  Lib.  386,  folio  161,  in  consideration  of  $3400. 
conveyed  to  Henry  L.  Pierce  : 

"  A  certain  parcel  of  land  with  the  buildings  thereon,  situate  in 
Canton   aforesaid,  containing  eight  acres  and  forty  two  rods,  more  or 


31 

Fourthly.  Of  the  Nath'l  French  estate,  of  which,  with  Mr.  Fisher's 
Pond  Pasture,  Mary  Spurr,  widow,  died  seized  in  1780,  and  which  all 
became  the  property  of  Redman  Spurr,  who  conveyed  to  Archibald 
McKendry. 

( 1.)  Archibald  McKendry,  by  deed  dated  April  11,  1789,  record- 
ed Book  o.j,  folio  49  and  .30,  conveyed  to  Isaac  Billings  : — 

"  A  certain  tract  of  land,  being  in  said  Stoughton,  and  contains 
estimation  ten  acres,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  bounded  as  follow-, 
viz  :  beginning  at  a  stake  at  the  North  side  of  the  bars  on  the  Country 
road  leading  from  Boston  to  Taunton,  thence  running  Northeasterly 
a  straight  line  and  bounding  on  Jerusha  Petty's  land,  till  it  comes  to 
a  stake  at  the  edge  of  the  bank  by  the  old  yard,  thence  running 
Southeasterly  to  a  stake  near  the  old  well,  thence  Northerly  into  the 
front  door  and  through  the  middle  of  the  chimney  of  the  old  house  to 
a  stake  at  the  Northerly  side  of  said  house,  thence  Northeasterly 
bounding  on  said  Jerusha  Petty's  land  till  it  eonies  to  a  stake  at  tin- 
corner  of  land  that  I  lately  sold  to  Ezekiel  Fisher,  Jr.,  thence  North- 
westerly, as  the  fence  now  stands,  till  it  comes  to  Seth  Strobridge's 
land,  thence  a  Westerly  course  bounding  on  land  of  Seth  Strobri 
and  the  widow  Sarah  Crane  till  it  come  to  the  Country  road,  thence 
Southeasterly  on  the  country  road  till  it  comes  to  the  bounds  first 
mentioned,  together  with  the  Westerly  end  of  the  old  house  standing 
on  the  same, — it  being  a  part  of  flic  land  I  bought  <>f  Redman  Spurrt 
sometime  since, — reserving  for  myself  and  Kzekiel  Fisher,  Jr.,  our 
heirs  and  assigns,  a  bridle  or  leading  way  to  drive  cattle  and  to  go 
with  a  team  and  carl  from  the  Country  road  through  the  afore  granted 
premises,  on  the  Northerly  side  of  the  same,  till  entrance  is  obtained 
in  Kzekiel  Fisher  dr's  land,  and  to  return  at  all  time-  as  occasion 
may  require;  the  aforenamed  Isaac  Billings  to  furnish  and  procure  at 
his  own  cost  bars  or  gates  that  may  he  needful  to  Becure  the  premi 
especially  on  the  pass-way  reserved,  and  the  said  McKendry  and 
others,  entitled,  to  the  pass-way  by  the  above  reserve  are  to  put  up 
bars  and  shut  gates  at  all  times  when  the  said  pass-way  LS  made  use  of." 

(2.)     Isaac  Billings,   by  deed  dated    April   6,  1810,  for  $550.,  re- 
corded Book  34,  folio  257,  conveyed  i"  Lemuel  Whiting:  — 

"A  certain  hit  or  parcel  of  laud   lying   and  being  in  Canton  afore- 
said, containing   by  estimation   ten   acres,   be  the  -am.-  more  or 
bounded  as   follows,  viz:    beginning   at   a   stake   on  Taunton    road, 
at  the  corner  of  land  recently  sold  by  said  Lemuel    Whiting  t"   linos 


32 

Uphani  Jr.,  and  John  Tucker  Jr.,  thence  running  Northeasterly  a 
varying  line  and  on  the  line  of  land  of  said  Tucker  and  Upham  till  it 
conies  to  Alexander  Fisher's  pasture,  thence  running  Northwesterly 
about  twenty  rods  and  on  the  line  of  land  of  said  Alexander,  as  the 
fence  now  stands,  till  it  strikes  the  land  of  Seth  Strobridge,  thence 
turning  and  running  a  Southwesterly  course  as  the  fence  now  stands, 
bounding  Northwesterly  in  part  on  lands  of  Seth  Strobridge,  as  also  on 
lands  of  Sarah  Crane,  till  it  conies  to  said  Taunton  road,  thence 
Southeasterly  on  said  Taunton  road  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned, 
reserving  however,  for  use  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Ezekiel  Fisher  and 
their  assigns,  a  privilege  of  passing  and  repassing  at  all  times,  to  and 
from  the  pasture  of  said  Alexander,  they  at  all  times  putting  up  bars, 
shutting  gates,  &c.  Also  reserving  for  use  of  Samuel  Canterbury  and 
his  heirs,  a  certain  dwelling  house  standing  on  said  jtreniises,  sold  as 
aforesaid,  which  house  is  not  to  be  considered  as  sold  to  said  Whi- 
ting, but  is  reserved  for  said  Canterbury,  he,  the  said  Canterbury  and 
Whiting  to  make  such  bargains  as  they  please  respecting  said  house." 

(3.)  Lemuel  Whiting,  by  deed  dated  Nov.  27,  1813,  recorded 
Nov.  28,  1813,  Liber  45,  folio  98,  conveyed  to  Nathaniel  French,  2d., 
in  consideration  of  $1100  :  — 

"A  certain  lot  orpacel  of  land,  lying  and  being  in  Canton  aforesaid, 
containing  by  estimation,  ten  acres,  more  or  less,  and  is  bounded  as  fol- 
lows, viz  :  beginning  at  a  stake  on  Taunton  road,  at  the  corner  of 
land  recently  sold  to  Isaac  Horton,  thence  running  Northeasterly  a 
varying  line  and  on  the  line  of  land  of  said  Horton,  till  it  comes  to 
Alexander  Fisher's  pasture,  thence  running  Northwesterly  about 
twenty  rods  and  on  the  line  of  land  of  said  Alexander,  as  the  fence 
now  stands,  till  it  strikes  the  land  of  Seth  Strobridge  :  thence  turning 
and  running' a  Southwesterly  course,  as  the  fence  now  stands,  bound- 
ing Northwesterly  in  part  on  lands  of  said  Seth  Strobridge,  as  also  on 
lands  of  Sarah  Crane,  till  it  comes  to  said  Taunton  road, — thence- 
Southeasterly  on  said  Taunton  road  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned. — 
Reserving  forever  fur  use  of  heirs  of  the  late  Ezekiel  Fisher,  de- 
ceased, and  their  heirs  and  assigns,  a  privilege  of  passing  and  repas- 
sing at  all  times  to  and  from  the  pasture  of  said  Alexander,  they  at 
all  times  putting  up  bars  and  shutting  gates  which  they  may  have  oc- 
casion to  pass,  &c. — And  also  is  included  in  said  sale  a  dwelling 
house  standing  on  said  premises,  as  also  all  other  buildings  thereon 
standing." 


F 


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